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In Canglan Court.

Xiao Jizi was forced by Lian Hua to recite poetry; he had to memorize a poem after just a few glances, and if he couldn’t recite it, he would be hit on the palm with a rattan.

If he recited it incorrectly, his palm would also be punished, while Xiao Linzi was the judge of whether it was recited correctly or not.

Whenever Xiao Jizi’s palm was struck, Xiao Linzi would look away, not daring to watch, as it seemed too painful.

But he was too honest, unable to lie, unable to help Brother Xiao Ji...

Lian Hua was having a great time, but Xiao Jizi was on the verge of tears.

It was truly bitter to him; how could he have that idiot’s gift of never forgetting anything he saw?

Crying out for his parents and pleading with his master, his generously accommodating master counted from five, increasing it to ten.

After counting to ten, if he couldn’t recite it, he would be hit.

After frolicking for a while, Lian Hua put down the rattan and asked, "Does it hurt?"

Xiao Jizi immediately seized the opportunity to wail, "It hurts, Master, I can’t even lift my hand. Look, now my hand trembles even when holding a cup."

As he spoke, he picked up a cup with trembling hands, the lid shaking vigorously.

Lian Hua eyed him for a few moments, her expression unchanged, "Show me your hand."

Xiao Jizi set down the cup and immediately spread out his palm, saying, "However, Master, for some reason, even though the pain is in my hand, there’s a warmth in my heart. I feel incredibly comfortable, possibly due to your gracious benevolence..."

Lian Hua, quick in both eye and hand, snatched up the rattan: "Whack!"

"Ouch, that’s painful..." Xiao Jizi leaped up, shaking his hand continuously. This time, the Master really used force.

"Ow!"

A louder cry overshadowed Xiao Jizi’s cries of pain.

Both turned their heads and saw Xiao Linzi, with his eyes covered and head in hands, squatting down.

Lian Hua and Xiao Jizi exchanged glances. Xiao Jizi dubiously inspected his own hand. There was no mistake, he was the one who had been hit, so why did the idiot sound even more pitiful than him?

Lian Hua, seeing him look at his hand, snorted arrogantly, "Since I was small, I was punished by having my palm struck, so I can distinguish between real and fake pain very clearly. I haven’t used much strength, and your palm isn’t even red; how could it hurt?"

When she was younger, her tutor would strike her palm with a ruler, and that truly hurt. The first time she was punished, just a few strikes caused her hand to swell so much that even a light touch was painful, and she couldn’t possibly hold a cup.

Of course, after being punished many times, she and the other children, blind to their elderly tutor’s failing eyesight, secretly switched the ruler for another.

That ruler was carefully selected after lots of testing—they took turns trying it out for a long time before they found one that made a crisp sound when striking yet wasn’t as painful.

Xiao Jizi’s acting skills were simply too poor.

Oh, it turns out his master comes from a long line of being punished. No wonder.

Xiao Jizi secretly chuckled to himself but put on a serious front, raising his thumb upright and sincerely said, "Master is truly a sage, with eyes as discerning as a torch.

Nothing can escape Your keen sight. Just now, I was foolishly showing off in front of you.

I hope Your generous nature can forgive me? "

Lian Hua couldn’t help but laugh, her tension eased significantly after his bantering.

She was initially very excited and thrilled at the prospect of seeing her Clan Aunt tomorrow, but afterward, she didn’t know why, a slight unease and tension kept surfacing in her heart.

When that incident happened in her family, she was still too young to understand, and without clarity, she found herself in the Imperial Palace.

Looking back, she couldn’t recall clearly what had happened. Even what her Clan Uncle told her was blurred.

Tomorrow, she wanted to ask about what had happened in her family and look for any clues, so it would be easier for His Majesty to find what he was looking for.

She smiled and said, "Thank you, Xiao Jizi."

Xiao Jizi understood what was going on and hurriedly said, "Oh, Master, you flatter your servant too much."

The two of them exchanged a smile.

Xiao Linzi withdrew his hand and asked timidly, "Master, will you continue to beat me or not?"

Seeing his own hand hurting and his eyes aching as well; it was terribly frightening.

If he wasn’t going to be hit, he would get up, but if the beating was to continue, then he might as well stay crouched down.

Lian Hua and Brother Xiao Ji, you look at me, I look at you, and suddenly burst into hearty laughter.

Only Xiao Linzi didn’t understand what was funny, but seeing the two of them happy, he couldn’t help standing up with a smile as well...

Later on, Lian Hua resumed her calligraphy practice, her mind much calmer.

That evening, when the Emperor returned as usual, everything was normal, filled with talking and laughter, even to the point where she told His Majesty a joke.

And so, the day passed like this.

In the pitch-black hall, a shadow propped up his forehead, "Did he drink it?"

One hidden in the shadows replied, "He did."

"You may leave."

"Yes."

The next day, during Chen Hour.

Lin Yuejuan walked with her head down along the palace pathway; she had been walking for a long time and still hadn’t arrived.

The more she walked, the more nervous she became, truly understanding that what her old man had said earlier was no joke.

There were strict rules within the Imperial Palace. She remembered the old man’s words firmly, telling her that no matter what or whom she encountered, she should not say much and let the white fatty of a eunuch at her side do the talking.

Watching her old man get so nervous and worked up, pacing around in agitation, she didn’t feel much herself and even wanted to tease him—could the palace really be so dangerous that it ate people?

She had never seen His Majesty that her old man spoke of and always felt that it wasn’t real, thinking that her husband was exaggerating.

Right up until they entered the palace gates, it all seemed to her like child’s play, unreal, especially since those who had brought them into the residence were all very kind, not seeming like they had come from within the palace, and lacked the authority even of a county official from the city; it just didn’t seem plausible.

Influenced by her husband, who from the start had been cold to the white fatty eunuch while the latter remained polite and well-spoken, she wasn’t nervous at all before her arrival.

But once she truly entered through the high palace walls, passed through several checkpoints, traversed the long corridors, walked past grand and towering palaces, strolled through spacious gardens, and saw the meticulous guards, her nerves started to strain, and she began to sweat with apprehension.

With an always cheerful face, Hu Miaomiao assured her with a smile, "We’re almost there, Madam Lian, please bear with it a little longer."

"Ah? Yes, alright," she responded slowly, catching up a moment later and quickly affirming. Half-raising her head for a quick glance, she quickly bowed it again in panic, her hands tightly clasped together, sweating profusely.

After a while, she suddenly remembered to express her gratitude and blurted out in haste, "Thank you, Eunuch Hu."

It was Hu, right? She had heard others call him that, and only then did she realize the white fatty she had seen a few times bore the surname Hu and seemed to hold a significant position, which made her even more nervous.

Her husband had been so casual around Eunuch Hu, and she had thought he was just an ordinary person; it was only within the palace that she felt the imposing aura emanating from him.

Knowing she was extremely nervous, Hu Miaomiao cheerfully said, "Madam Lian, you are too polite. I know you wish to see Master Lian soon, but there is no rush; we’re just a few steps away, let’s walk slowly.

A mother and daughter reunion is a joyous occasion.

Master Lian misses you and Mr. Lian just as much, and she has been eagerly anticipating your arrival, waiting early for you, just hoping to meet you.

See, just beyond this grove is where Master Lian resides. "